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PSM's 10th Congress marks a decade of struggle
Malaysian Socialist Party - May 28, 2008
Nathan Petrus Lee, Kuala Lumpur – In two days time, the tenth National Congress of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will kick off in Port Dickson. The 3-day congress will be attended by around 150 delegates and observers.
This year's congress is special in that it commemorates a decade of PSM's existence in the Malaysian political scene. It also is the first congress since two party members were voted into political office in the last general election, breaking the four-decade drought in which there were no socialist representatives.
A total of 33 resolutions have been tabled by the party's branches and front organisations this year. These can be broken down into six categories, namely internal party policy, the party's newspaper, national programmes, the General Election, the party's registration, membership fees and current national issues.
Two branches have raised the pertinent issue of party membership. Following up with the resolutions passed last year on the relaxation of the party's recruitment policy, both branches have proposed that two types of membership be created. Although there are slight differences in the details of the two proposals, the common ground is that members with voting powers should be subject to more stringent requirements, while those without such powers need only fulfil requirements which are less strict.
A couple of resolutions have also been proposed regarding on what logo that PSM should stand under in future general elections if the Party is yet to be registered. One puts forward the view that PSM should spurn Pakatan Rakyat and instead contest as independents or under any alternative banner. The other recommends that the party must be prepared to face 3-cornered fights and contest under an independent logo. The crucial question would be if PSM would work towards strengthening the two party system of work towards building a third force.
Finally the controversial issue of the 1% remittance requirement for membership rears its head once again in three separate resolutions. Two propose that the remittance be made optional, while the third suggests that the money be given to the branches rather than the party's headquarters. A lively debate is expected on this matter.
PSM Chairperson, Dr. Nasir Hashim will open the Tenth Congress with his keynote address on the first day, followed by the Secretary-General S. Arutchelvan's report.
This year, papers will be presented by eight speakers on four topics, which will be followed by debates. The international topic for this congress is on the worldwide food crisis and its impact on economies and people's movements. On the national political front, it will be debated whether the objective situation is right for a take-over of power from the Barisan National and whether PSM should form a third way or support a two-party system. The third debate will be a critique on PSM's political line which focuses on economic struggle rather than on other aspects such as culture, language and religion. The fourth debate would be on how to expand PSM's membership base without sacrificing quality.
Overall, this year's congress looks to be a thrilling one that will set the tone of the party's struggle for the year ahead and beyond. With the end of the party's first 10 years of existence marked by a breakthrough in the last general election, the next decade promises to be even more exciting.
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